During Music PEI’s annual invite-only “Awards Party,” hosted by Music PEI’s President (not to mention JUNO winning singer-songwriter) Catherine MacLellan, Music PEI announced the winners for their 2020 Music PEI Awards.
While Irish Mythen went into the nominations with a solid 7-award lead, it was Sorrey who came away the winner in the end, taking the awards for Credit Union Album of the Year, Downtown Charlottetown Inc. Pop Recording of the Year and Video of the Year.
Mythen didn’t leave empty-handed though. She, along with Cory Gallant, Tara MacLean, and Paper Lions, all managed to win two awards apiece.
The surprise of the week, however, seems to have happened on Thursday night. This year the SOCAN Songwriter of the Year Award resulted in a tie between Andrew Waite for the song “Cash It In” and Tara MacLean for “Ghosting Me”.
“Each year we see our artists continuing to gain new fans, recognition, tour the world playing bigger venues and larger festivals with the likes of Irish Mythen, The East Pointers and Vishtèn” said Music PEI Executive Director Rob Oakie.
“We have been very fortunate to see new artists like Sorrey, The Atlantic String Machine, Cory Gallant and many more continue that development. PEI is without a doubt, a very special place musically.”
The 2020 Music PEI Award Nominees:
(Winners in bold)
Achievement in Classical or Jazz Music Award
Atlantic String Machine
Dan Rowswell
Winterjazz Quartet
Credit Union Album of the Year
Atlantic String Machine – The Bayfield Sessions
Gordie MacKeeman and His Rhythm Boys – Dreamland
Irish Mythen – Little Bones
Paper Lions – Stay Together
Sorrey – In Full Bloom
Digital Achievement of the Year
Andrew Waite
Hailey MacIsaac
KINLEY
Paper Lions
Sorrey
Electronic Single Recording of the Year
Lee Rosevere – Lunar Descent
The Trip with DJ AllyCaT – Should Probably Do Something
Vince The Messenger – Photosynthesis
Entertainer of the Year
Andrew Waite
Atlantic String Machine
Cory Gallant
David Woodside
Dylan Menzie
Gordie MacKeeman and His Rhythm Boys
Inn Echo
Irish Mythen
Little Cities
Paper Lions
Rachel Beck
Richard Wood
Tara MacLean
Event of the Year
Atlantic Blue
Cloggeroo – The Island Folk Festival
Island Jazz
Rock the Boat Music Festival
Rollo Bay Fiddle Festival
Francophone Artist of the Year
Fayo
Sirène & Matelot
Vishtèn
Group Recording of the Year
Atlantic String Machine – The Bayfield Sessions
Gordie MacKeeman and His Rhythm Boys – Dreamland
Paper Lions – Stay Together
Sirène & Matelot – Sirène & Matelot
Sorrey – In Full Bloom
Live Music Programmer of the Year
Dan Rowswell
Darren Biggar
Grace Gormley
New Artist of the Year
Brad Milligan Band
Cory Gallant
David Woodside
Inn Echo
Maureen Trainor
Pop Recording of the Year
Hailey MacIsaac – In a Dark Room
Paper Lions – Stay Together
Sorrey – In Full Bloom
Producer of the Year
Colin Buchanan
Dennis Ellsworth
Jon Matthews
Rock Recording of the Year
Brad Milligan Band – Destination
David Woodside – The Long and The Short
Dennis Ellsworth – Common Senseless
Soul Filter – A Minor Conspiracy
Towerwood – Towerwood
Roots Contemporary/Country Recording of the Year
Cory Gallant – Welcome to My World
Greg Bungay – A Radical Departure
Irish Mythen – Little Bones
Maureen Trainor – Nothing But The Stars
Tara MacLean – Deeper
Roots Traditional Recording of the Year
Blair Gaudet – Storytime
Gordie MacKeeman and His Rhythm Boys – Dreamland
Inn Echo – Inn Echo
SOCAN Songwriter of the Year
Andrew Waite – “Cash It In”
Dennis Ellsworth – “Don’t Worry About It”
Irish Mythen – “Little Bones”
Rick Sparkes + The Enablers – “Love for Rainy Days”
Tara MacLean – “Ghosting Me”
Solo Recording of the Year
Cory Gallant – Welcome to My World
Dennis Ellsworth – Common Senseless
Hailey MacIsaac – In a Dark Room
Irish Mythen – Little Bones
Tara MacLean – Deeper
Song of the Year
Cory Gallant – “Where You Come From”
Irish Mythen – “Little Bones”
KINLEY – “Lightworkers”
Paper Lions – “Rhythm & Gold”
Sorrey – “Talking To Them”
Touring Artist of the Year
Atlantic String Machine
Irish Mythen
Rachel Beck
Richard Wood
Vishtèn
Venue of the Year
Celtic Performing Arts Centre at The College of Piping
Copper Bottom Brewing
The Guild
Video of the Year
Alicia Toner – “Dangerous Home” (Directed by Jordan Mah)
Andrew Waite – “Faith” (Directed by Brendan Henry)
Little Cities – “Safety First” (Directed by Ryan McCarvill)
Sorrey – “Signs” (Directed by Ben Rayner)
Vishtèn – “Elle Tempête” (Directed by Millefiore Clarkes)
Visual Artist of the Year
Ashley Anne Clark
Brendan Henry
Karen Graves
Lifetime Achievement Award
Alan Dowling
Live Music Production Professional of the Year
Peter Gallant
Volunteer of the Year
Leo Cheverie
Industry Person of the Year
John MacPhee
Maritime Electric Educator of the Year
Donnie Fraser
Deep Roots Distillery Rooted to the Island Award
Mitch Jay
ABCE Musician of the Year
Natalie Williams Calhoun
Community Contributor of the Year
Gary Chipman